Johan Collett Falsen

Who was Johan Collett Falsen?

Johan Collett Falsen was a Norwegian jurist and politician.

He graduated as cand.jur. in 1841. He worked as an attorney in Nedenes from 1846, and then in Trondhjem. In 1849 he moved to Drammen to work as an attorney there. He became involved in politics, serving as mayor of Drammen from 1853 to 1959 and in 1861. He was first elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1859, representing the urban constituency of Drammen.

In 1861 he was appointed County Governors of Nordre Bergenhus amt. He first resided at Lærdalsøyri, but bought a farm in Leikanger in 1862. He thus became the first County Governor to live in Leikanger, where the county administration is located today. While stationed here, he was elected to Parliament for two more terms; in 1865 and 1868. He left the County Governor position in 1869 to pursue a career in national politics.

In February 1870 Falsen was appointed Minister of Justice and the Police. His tenure ended on 29 June the same year; two days later he was appointed to the Council of State Division in Stockholm. On 1 August 1871 he was reassigned again, this time as Minister of the Navy and Postal Affairs.